Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The parable of the believer who recites the Quran is that of citron, who fragrance and taste are pleasant. The parable of the believer who does not recite the Quran is that of a date-fruit, whose taste is sweet and has no fragrance. The parable of the wicked who recites the Quran is that of basil, whose fragrance is pleasant and taste is bitter. The parable of the wicked who does not recite the Quran is that of a vine, whose taste is bitter and has no fragrance. The parable of good company is that of a seller of musk; he will smell its fragrance even if he does not buy anything. The parable of bad company is that of a blacksmith; he will smell its smoke even if he is not touched by its ashes.”
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4829
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut
عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الْأُتْرُجَّةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ التَّمْرَةِ طَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَلَا رِيحَ لَهَا وَمَثَلُ الْفَاجِرِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَمَثَلُ الْفَاجِرِ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ طَعْمُهَا مَرٌّ وَلَا رِيحَ لَهَا وَمَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ كَمَثَلِ صَاحِبِ الْمِسْكِ إِنْ لَمْ يُصِبْكَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ أَصَابَكَ مِنْ رِيحِهِ وَمَثَلُ جَلِيسِ السُّوءِ كَمَثَلِ صَاحِبِ الْكِيرِ إِنْ لَمْ يُصِبْكَ مِنْ سَوَادِهِ أَصَابَكَ مِنْ دُخَانِهِ
4829 سنن أبي داود كتاب الأدب باب من يؤمر أن يجالس
4829 المحدث شعيب الأرناؤوط خلاصة حكم المحدث إسناده صحيح في تخريج سنن أبي داود